WORKSHOPS
Upcoming Workshops
Sponsored in part by
Title
Date / Time
Webinar - Mission 66: Modernizing Campgrounds while Preserving Historic Heritage
It has been about 80 years since the inception of the National Park Service Mission 66 program, an initiative that focused on providing new campgrounds and facilities across the nation, while also focusing on modernization and expansion. With the establishment of the National Park Service (NPS) in 1916, camping popularity increased exponentially; post-WWII, more and more families were packing up their cars and hitting the road. With this surge of visitors, it became apparent that existing park facilities were too small and in need of repair and expansion. Mission 66 was a successful initiative that helped standardize and modernize campground design. These campgrounds are located from coast to coast and include designed landscapes that clustered campsites into loops and accommodated car camping. They also provided modern comfort stations, walking paths, as well as gathering areas such as amphitheaters and visitor centers. These campgrounds focused on the natural environment, vegetation and features found in the area and centered on the idea of congregation with gathering areas and picnic structures. As modern visitor use evolves, it is critical to understand and assess Mission 66 resources for potential historic significance to allow them to adapt to changing needs and protect their historic character.
1. Summarize the history of camping within the National Park Service.
2. Explore how the Mission 66 program initiatives changed and created modern campgrounds.
3. Discuss the challenges and the future of Mission 66 campgrounds.
4. Discuss how the Determination of Eligibility Process Guidelines and Treatment Guidelines for Mission 66 campgrounds will help the National Park Service efficiently evaluate and sensitively rehabilitate these campgrounds to ensure their heritage as well as adapt for today’s camper.
August 28, 2025
Webinar - African American Cultural and Historical Museum of Washtenaw County
This presentation explores the architectural, technical, and ethical considerations involved in the adaptive reuse of a residential structure built in 1824 for its new purpose as the home of the African American Cultural and Historical Museum of Washtenaw County (AACHM). The session will examine the house’s historical and cultural context, the design strategies implemented to retain and protect its architectural integrity, and the contemporary upgrades needed to ensure it is accessible, inclusive, and functional as a museum space.
The case study approach will highlight practical methods and real challenges encountered in transforming this significant early 19th-century home into a facility that not only preserves the past but also invites community engagement with African American history in the region.
1. Describe the architectural and historical significance of the 1824 house in the context of early 19th-century Washtenaw County development.
2. Identify key preservation and adaptive reuse strategies that balance historic integrity with modern museum functions.
3. Discuss the challenges of integrating accessibility, environmental controls, and code compliance within a historic residential structure.
4. Integrate inclusive design principles—such as ADA access and interpretive diversity—into the adaptive reuse of a historic building.
September 18, 2025
Sam Beuford Woodworking Institute
Historic Trades Workshops
The Michigan Historic Preservation Network (MHPN) and the Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute (SBWI) are thrilled to announce a groundbreaking partnership aimed at revitalizing historic preservation trades education in Michigan.
Upcoming workshops include:
- Wood Bending: Bend and Form (August 4-8, 2025)
- 19th-Century Windows & Doors – Construction & Repair (August 11-15, 2025)
- Introduction to Timber Frame Engineering (September 19-21, 2025)
Varies
Advanced Cemetery Preservation Workshop
Glenwood Historical Cemetery and Arboretum – Flint, Michigan
$95 per participant (includes all materials and safety gear)
The Michigan Historic Preservation Network invites you to an advanced, full-day training in cemetery preservation on the historic grounds of Glenwood Historical Cemetery and Arboretum in Flint. Designed for caretakers, advanced volunteers, and preservation professionals, this workshop offers in-depth instruction on the ethical, material, and technical aspects of gravestone conservation in Michigan.
Led by Dr. Thomas Henthorn (University of Michigan-Flint), Suzy Ferguson (A Loving Legacy), and Melanie Purkis (historic masonry specialist, Purkis Cemetery Preservation), the workshop features a mix of expert presentations, live demonstrations, and supervised hands-on cleaning practice.
- Welcome and Introduction – Thomas Henthorn
An overview of the day’s goals and a brief history of Glenwood Cemetery. - Ethics, Permissions, and Planning – Thomas Henthorn
A focused discussion on legal and ethical issues in cemetery preservation, including obtaining permission, respecting descendant communities, and planning appropriate interventions. - Materials in Michigan Cemeteries – Thomas Henthorn
Learn to identify and assess common stone types—such as marble, limestone, sandstone, and granite—and understand their preservation needs and vulnerabilities. - Headstone Cleaning Techniques – Suzy Ferguson, A Loving Legacy
A comprehensive session on conservation-approved cleaning practices:- Products: Selecting biological and chemical cleaners appropriate for historic stone
- Methods: Step-by-step demonstration of effective and safe cleaning techniques
- Dos and Don’ts: Key principles to avoid unintentional damage
- Hands-On Cleaning: Participants will clean historic markers under guided supervision
- Lunch Break
- Lifting and Setting Stones (Demonstration Only) – Thomas Henthorn and Suzy Ferguson
Participants will observe a live demonstration of how to safely assess, lift, and reset fallen or leaning grave markers using preservation-grade tools and techniques.
Adhesives and Mortars for Historic Stone Repair – Melanie Purkis
Learn about the selection and use of adhesives and lime mortars in gravestone conservation. Topics include preparation, mixing, application, and long-term performance in Michigan’s climate.
September 13, 2025
9 AM – 3 PM ET
Registration Deadline: Friday, September 5, 2025
Hands-on Masonry Workshop
This event is mostly hands-on with secondary element of lecture, teaching the basics of tuckpointing, mortar and plaster.
$100 Registration Fee
CONTACT: RHONDA BAKER (CITY OF GR) – RBAKER@GRCITY.US –
456-3451
October 18, 2025
8 AM – 4:30 PM ET
963 Richmond NW Grand Rapids
Richmond Park Pavilion
For more information, please call us at 517.371.8080
or e-mail us at Info@mhpn.org